I'm trying to create a simple application in UWP for a Zebra device (Model TC700J) running Windows 8, in which I make use of the built in barcode scanner.
From what I've found, there's plenty of Zebra tutorials for accessing the scanner when programming on Android, but none for Windows due to the fact that Microsoft provide their own generic barcode scanner API found in the Windows.Devices.PointOfService namespace.
The code I currently have looks something like this:
BarcodeScanner scanner;
ClaimedBarcodeScanner claimedScanner;
scanner = await BarcodeScanner.GetDefaultAsync();
if (scanner != null)
{
claimedScanner = await scanner.ClaimScannerAsync();
}
The problem is that the if statement never evaluates to true as the GetDefaultAsync method always returns null.
Over here there was an answer that seemed to work, stating that it depends where the GetDefaultAsync method is placed. I've tried to put it in all of the suggested places though and to no avail.
There is another method, BarcodeScanner.FromIdAsync() which returns a barcode based on the string representation of that barcode scanner's id sent as a parameter, but I'm not sure that'd be valid here as the barcode scanner is built into the device.
Looking at Zebra's site, TC700J seems to be model number of Windows 10 Mobile IoT Enterprize OS.
And the platform is ARM(Qualcomm snapdragon), not Intel x86/x64.
TC70 / TC75 Touch Computer Series
https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/mobile-computers/handheld/tc7x-touch-computer-series.html
TC70x Operating System (TC700J) Windows 10 Mobile IoT Enterprise v1.13.02 Release Notes
https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/release-notes/operating-system/tc70x-operating-system-v1-13-02--release-notes.html
For example, if your Zebra device is old hardware and Windows Phone 8/8.1 is running, Windows Phone does not seem to support Windows.Devices.PointOfService namespace.
It is described in the comment of the following article.
Windows Phone 8.1: Scan Barcodes using Camera
If your Zebra device can update to Windows 10 Mobile IoT Enterprise, please check it after doing it.
If you can update it, you can use the barcode scanner sample for Windows 10.
https://github.com/Microsoft/Windows-universal-samples/tree/master/Samples/BarcodeScanner
If your device is running on Windows 8 for x86, since Windows.Devices.PointOfService namespace is supported from Windows 8.1, you need to change the OS to Windows 8.1/10 if possible.
In that case you can use following, or above(for Windows10) sample.
Barcode scanner sample for Windows 8.1
https://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Barcode-scanner-sample-f39aa411
If you can not update it, please get the software and documentation for using BarcodeScanner from the vendor on Windows (Phone?) 8.
Seems the usage of Async method wasn't quite right.
Try below code:
BarcodeScanner scanner;
ClaimedBarcodeScanner claimedScanner;
scanner = await BarcodeScanner.GetDefaultAsync();
if (scanner != null)
{
claimedScanner = await scanner.ClaimScannerAsync();
}
More details:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/async
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/jj991977.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
